Surprise, Surprise: Prop 8 Backers Will Appeal

It was only a matter of time--fewer than 24 hours transpired--before Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker's controversial ruling declaring Proposition 8 unconstitutional was appealed by Prop 8 backers.

"We will certainly appeal this disappointing decision. Its impact could be devastating to marriage and the democratic process. . . . It's not radical for more than 7 million Californians to protect marriage as they've always known it," said Brian Raum, senior counsel for the Alliance Defense Fund, in a statement released by ADF shortly after Walker's ruling.

The Alliance Defense Fund attorneys are litigating the lawsuit and providing major funding for the Proposition 8 defense.

(Apparently with human rights, it's totally rational to enshrine the status quo via popularity contest for being just that: the status quo. It worked out just splendidly with interracial marriage, immigration quotas, women's rights, disability rights, freedom of religion, and freedom of speech. Oh, wait--time and time again, throughout all 234 years of American history, an independent judiciary has defied the tyranny of the majority in order to safeguard fundamental human rights for all Americans. But hey, that's just me.)

But don't call the florist or the caterer just yet, gay Californians. Expecting the onslaught of legal commotion and appeals, Judge Walker simultaneously issued a temporary ban for same-sex marriages in order for both sides to submit arguments. Supporters and opponents of the decision anticipate the case finding its way all the way up to the U.S. Supreme Court.

So that makes one thing either side can agree on: there's no backing down.